Construction of the new landfill for solid waste for the Gegharkunik and Kotayk regions of Armenia will be supported through a multi-donor Eastern Europe Energy Efficiency and Environment Partnership fund (E5P). The relevant agreement was signed on 30 June between the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), who manage the fund, and the country’s Finance Ministry.
The EU is the largest overall contributor to the E5P fund, which operates in four EU Eastern Partner countries – Armenia, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine.
“This project is part of the larger support that the EU is providing to Armenia in the waste management sector,” Piotr Switalski, the EU Ambassador to Armenia, said. “To date, we have committed €22.4 million in non-refundable grants, which shows the importance the EU attaches to environmental issues in the country.”
The E5P grant of €2 million will complement a €2 million EBRD loan and co-finance the construction of transfer stations, waste collection and transfer trucks, waste containers and other specialised equipment. According to the EBRD, the total cost of this project in Armenia is €11 million.
The main objective of the E5P initiative is to use grants to leverage loans from international financial institutions for municipal energy efficiency and environmental projects, such as the rehabilitation of water and wastewater systems, solid waste management, street lighting and the insulation of public buildings.